INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (HQs.

)
(Registered under the Societies Act XXI of 1860)
Mutually Affiliated with the British & Nepal Medical Associations
I.M.A. House, Indraprastha Marg, New Delhi-110 002
Telephones : +91-11-2337 0009 (10 lines), 23378680 / +91-9999116375, 9999116376, Fax: +91-11-23379470
Website: www.ima-india.org ; Email: hsg@ima-india.org
National President Immediate Past National President Honorary Secretary General HonoraryFinance Secretary
Dr. Rajan Sharma Dr. Santanu Sen Dr. R. V. Asokan Dr. Ramesh Kumar Datta
(M): 9812054730 (M): 9830144496 (M): 9847061563 (M): 9811086688
Email:rajanhospital@gmail.com Email:shantanu_sen2007@yahoo.com Email: rvasokan@gmail.com Email: dr_dattaramesh@yahoo.com

20.04.2020
New Delhi
Press Release
IMA warns retaliation if cremations are obstructed
IMA HQ takes serious note of the incidents in Chennai where the cremation
of doctors have been obstructed. It is a matter of great concern that these doctors who had
died in their line of duty be treated shabbily and in such an uncivilised manner. Even
more shocking is the utter helplessness of the state Government in preventing such
incidents. If the Governments do not have power to stop such incidents they lose their
moral right to govern.
IMA has shown much restraint in spite of extreme provocations. That
doesn’t mean our patience is endless. Abuse, violence, spitting, pelting of stones , denial of
entry to societies and residential accommodation have been tolerated so far since we
expected the Governments to do their normal duty. When they are unable to discharge
their constitutional obligations, perhaps these are not normal times. Denial of dignity in
death is the ultimate sacrilege.
It has to be realised that the doctors are rendering services at extreme risk to
themselves. No nation sends its army to warwithout weapons. Doctors, nurses and health
care workers of this country have been sent to fight against COVID 19 without PPEs and
they are dying young defending their people. If the value of such services are not realised,
the easiest thing for the doctor community will be to sit at home. The bigger sufferers will
be the community. Already all interventions have been withdrawn.If more services are
going to be withheld for non medical reasons it will be unfortunate. The state
Governments concerned are better warned to perform their constitutional duties as
expected. Failing which IMA has no option but to resort to drastic steps to protect the
rights of the medical profession. Appropriate Retaliatory measures will be decided if the
constitutional machinery breaks down.

Dr Rajan Sharma Dr R V Asokan

National President, IMA Hony Secretary General, IMA
Protect the Single and Couple Doctors Setup
All communications intended for headquarters office should be addressed to the Honorary Secretary General